sport news IAN LADYMAN: FIFA are trying to fix something that isn't broken in altering ... trends now
One of the most exciting nights I have experienced at this World Cup took place without me having to leave the hotel.
Sitting in my room watching Group E reach a remarkably tense denouement on the television was to know what the best of World Cup football is all about.
At half-time, with Germany leading Costa Rica and Spain ahead against Japan, both the big European nations were heading through from what we had called the Group of Death.
Germany were dumped out of the World Cup for the second straight edition at the group stage
With 20 minutes of both games to go, with both teams now behind, they were both going home.
Ultimately, Germany scored three goals that won them the game and therefore sent Spain through but not themselves. In order for Germany to progress as well, Spain had to rally and ultimately they didn’t.
Flicking between two channels to try to keep across both games, I inevitably had the feeling that I was always watching the wrong one. Heaven knows what it must have been like to support one of the teams involved or even be in one of the stadiums.
This is one of the reasons we watch the World Cup and other big tournaments.
It is to watch England and watch big-name players, for sure. But it’s also to be part of dramatic nights like that one, when football seems to be the only thing in life that matters as the fate of four nations swings back and forwards irresistibly.
A night of high drama in Group E was one of the finest in recent World Cup memory
Japan advanced at the expense of the Germans - against all the odds by defeating Spain
In America in four years’ time, however, there will be none of this. FIFA in their wisdom have decreed 48 teams will take part in World Cup 2026, rather than the current 32.
We are not totally sure yet what the format will be. It was thought there would be 16 groups of three with two teams going through from each. Now we think there may be 12 groups